Telling SLT about pregnancy before TT is done on wait for 12 weeks

[Timeandtidal]

I will be 12 weeks near end of summer term. Is it better to break the 12 week rule and tell slt before timetable allocations are decided or hold off. I don't like the idea of announcing early. I also know it is a pain to redo timetable which may be necessary for exams classes, given that I will leave for Maternity at at end if Autumn Term... I feel quite guilty 😕

Wait to tell them. They'll have plenty of time to rearrange. I know at my school they will either hire specialist cover or move teachers from lower years to cover my periods and have the maternity cover teach the lower years. It happens all the time, do what feels best for you

@EllieNBeeb Thanks. You're right, I need to do what is best for me also Sept is a long way off. I'm head of Maths, and feel responsible to my team who will likely end up covering for me. But I can't help the timing. Wasn't exactly in my control. I need to shake off the guilt and fear of people's judgement!

Try not to worry! The fact that you're so considerate to worry about this shows that you're a great team leader, and I'm sure your team will be happy for you and more than happy to pick up for you while you're off. And congrats, btw :)

Could you give another reason why you don't want exam classes for this year so they don't give you those?

@EllieNBeeb Thank you for such kind words!

@sd249 If I can think of a reason to give, I could definitely try this!

Going against the PP. Please tell them (in confidence). Its a hell of a job to unravel!

It sounds easy to cover from other colleagues etc, but it's much easier to do from the outset. For example they can give you a ks3 only TT from September. We don't always get maternity cover (none available for our subject that are good).
You don't need to announce it. I was in the same position and told HT and HOD and was explicit the information shouldn't be shared.

I'd also tell HT sooner rather than later to cover your back in case of you needing to leave the room to puke etc.

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation Thanks for your perspective. It is true that if they know before finalising TT it will be less stressful, potentially for me as well. The fear is that if I end up having a MC.

I completely understand that time, you're very early days now. How about waiting til 8-9 weeks and then telling? Much less chance by then and means a TT can be drawn up before summer still. Consider colleagues who may spend summer planning only to have those classes taken off them too. If you're there past December it is easier to slot you into a TT than take you off.

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation Yes, you make good points for me to think about.

Thanks everyone, for responding.

Sorry time I don't want to come across as if you must tell them if that's something you aren't comfortable with. Definitely make the decision that is best for you. Your colleagues will cope whatever happens!

(I've been on the reverse as both the pregnant person and the colleague who planned and the had a TT change.)

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation Not at all! I posted because I wanted different opinions. Thanks for replying. They will cope, it is true but I have had that situation of turning up in Sept to find last minute I'm teaching an unexpected A level group and I'd rather avoid that for my team, if I can.

As HOD do you not get to put in a staffing request about who you want teaching particular classes and key stages? Could you just quietly ask to amend it and request that the exam classes go to someone else? If not could you tell the HT and only the HT and ask for the TT to be adjusted without anyone else being told why? I know there are certain changes to our school TT going on at the moment that only 2 members of SLT and the HT know the reason behind. None of the people who know why it is happening are involved in writing the timetable.

@MadameMinimes Thanks for your message. You're right, I get to allocate the dept. I can indeed try to avoid giving myself exam classes. It might look a bit odd but if I am questioned, that might be the time to talk in confidence to the HT. Men just don't have to think about this stuff.

Did any of you teacher mums find it difficult being pregnant at work? I'm thinking navigating busy corridors, going to loo more often, morning sickness and also starting to show. Teenagers are very observant. I'm already a bit self-conscious.

I found it hardest early stages both times, hence telling HT early.

Teens really don't notice ime. By the time they do, you're 5+ months!

Personally I would tell SLT in confidence. I would say that if it wasn’t for the specific timing, I’d have waited until 12 weeks, but you’re saying to be helpful but are really keen for the info to be kept very quiet and limited to as few people as possible before your first scan.

I think once you’ve done that, you can allocate yourself non exam classes and it won’t be queried. Otherwise, if you start doing this, people will naturally ask why. It is better to be able to choose your moment to say rather than to have awkward conversations you’d rather not.

And it’s true it’s much easier for everyone (including you) if it is set up from scratch with your absence in mind. It will make your autumn timetable more manageable and also the timetables of the Dept less variable for the whole of the academic year.

Can you speak to your SLT link or just the Head and timetabler and ask the info is kept to them for now?

We have had a HoD go at Easter. She became pregnant in the summer hols, so after timetable was complete and nothing to be done about it. Thrilled for her and of course people, have their babies when it happens....everyone else does have to fit in a round it and that’s as it should be. But very difficult to sort out in terms of staffing, especially this year with exam classes going on longer than usual, plus the pregnant teacher faced a very heavy all exam classes timetable through both terms of the year and was exhausted.

2 other staff had babies at Christmas. Both had clearly told the school before the summer. They had light timetables and no/limited exam classes, so they had really pleasant last terms.No-one had to pick up exam classes half way through the year and those classes had continuity of teaching.

I just think it’s better for you if you say and you give yourself a much easier ride for that autumn term, plus there are benefits for everyone of being able to plan the full school year ahead rather than lots of re-jigs at Christmas.

What is putting you off saying in confidence to perhaps 2 or 3 key staff? Do you think you can do the timetable to work for you and the kids/staff without it looking odd to the timetabler or your SLT contact and is there a chance of the timetable getting wider viewing if you haven’t said and others twigging anyway, whilst if you say, the timetabler might be able to shield it from too many eyes for a few weeks longer. SLT can be sensitive about these things and knowing now can mean lots of things are done which will advantage you as well as others.